I HAVE SEEN THE LORD | FRIDAY 14TH APRIL 2023 | 40 DAYS OF UNCOMMON PROOFS

 I HAVE SEEN THE LORD | FRIDAY 14TH APRIL 2023 | 40 DAYS OF UNCOMMON PROOFS

● I believe that it will be somebody's testimony. You will say during this 40 days I have seen the Lord. That is the declaration of Mary.

● Just imagine how Mary went to the disciples, her face, shining with the light of grace. 

● Just imagine her voice, clear and firm about what she knows, yet still filled with awe at the wonder of it all. That will be your testimony in the name of Jesus Christ. 

CHAPTER 1 | MARY MAGDALENE'S BIOGRAPHY

● I pray God in the Word of Life, we will have women like Mary Magdalene. 

● I pray that God will raise such people in the Word of Life.  

Question : Are you a Mary Magdalene in church? Or do you want to be one?

Who was Mary Magdalene?

● From Scriptures we see she was among those who were healed and delivered by Jesus. 

● She was possessed with demons. Luke 8:2  And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 

● She was ministered. Luke 8:3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. 

● Meaning that Mary ministered to Jesus with her finances. She was not a poor woman.  

● QUESTION : Are you really delivered?

● We have people coming to church but they are not delivered.

● In Luke 8:2, Mary Magdalene was delivered and in verse 3 she ministered. She was delivered then ministered.

● We have people who are ministering but they are not delivered.You who are ministering, are you delivered?

● But the question is this ... What was so special/extraordinary in Jesus that made her to be so excited to go and tell everyone I HAVE SEEN THE LORD?

● From  Matthew 27:55/56,  we learn that Mary Magdalene was among those who saw/witnessed Jesus' passion.

● Matthew 27:55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: 

● Matthew 27:56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children. 

● From Luke 23:54-56, we learn that she was among those who saw/witnessed Jesus body being laid in the grave.

● Verss 54  Now it was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 

● Verse 55   But the women who had come with him from Galilee followed along and took a look at the tomb and saw how his body was laid, 

● Verse 56 and they went back to prepare spices and perfumed oils. But, of course, they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

● From John 19:25, we have the information that among the women standing by the cross of Jesus, Mary Magdalene was there.

● John 19:25  Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 

● Now, from John 20:18,  we learn that Mary Magdalene was the first one to see Jesus, not suffering, not dead, not in the grave, not bleeding, but ALIVE. Hallelujah !!!

● John 20:18  Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. 

● John 20:18 BSB Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples,  “I have seen the Lord!”  And she told them what He had said to her.

● Before you see the Lord, you need to be delivered.

CHAPTER 2 | THE JOURNEY

QUESTION : How do you know you are delivered?*

FACT 1 | THE POWER OF GIVING

● Luke 8:3 says she was ministering with her substance. You will know you are delivered by your giving.

● Your giving is the revelation of your heart. 

● Somebody said,  'love is not a noun, it is a verb.' It is an action.  

● God loved and gave. You will know you are delivered by your giving. We have people who struggle to give. Even when I talk about giving already they are grieved.

● I am not only taking about money, I am talking about time, dedication,  giving yourself to God. Paul says, gove yoursel unto the Lord. 

● People who struggle to give their time, offering,  tithe, their whole self to God, they need deliverance. It shows your heart is still holding onto the material things. You need to pray to God to deliver your heart. 

● God tested Abraham and said, give me your only begotten son. Giving is a test. 

● I am not talking about giving for the eyes to see, I am talking about giving from the heart. 

● The 1st way Mary is described,  is she was a giver. She was ministering with her substances.  There are people who give but they don't minister.  

● There is a way you can minister to the Lord with your substances.It is a ministry.  Serving the Lord with what you have. A response to what the Lord did to you. 

● Mary was delivered from 7 demons. Because she knew she was delivered,  giving was not a problem for her. How do you respond to what the Lord does for your life? 

● I pray,  you will be counted among those Jesus will trust for prosperity. I pray that you will be among those Jesus will trust once you have money, big businesses it will profit and serve the Kingdom of God.

● The question I am asking today is ... What made her to be the one to see Jesus first?

FACT 2 | THE POWER OF RISING UP EARLY IN THE MORNING TO PRAY

The 2nd thing about Mary is that she was an early riser

● John 20:1  The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early,  when it was yet dark,  unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

● You will know that you are really delivered by what time you wake up in the morning, by the 1st activities you engage into when you wake up in the morning.  

● How easy it is for you to wake up, or how hard it is for you to wake up will tell whether you are delivered or not. 

● Psalm 63:1 KJVS O God, thou art my God;  early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

● Waking up early in the morning is a sign that your soul thirst for the Lord.

● You will know you are delivered by the thirst for God, the longing of the soul. Today is Friday and your heart is thirsty for Sunday.

● What a joy,  when they told me let's go to the house of the Lord. You feel your heart is biting for Sunday, for the word of God. 

● When your heart is not boting for the Lord, for Sunday,  for the word ... you are not delivered!! You are yet to be delivered.  

1. Jesus did it all the days of his life until his resurrection

● "Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray." ( Mark 1:35 )

- Waking up early has some benefits.

2. To get instructions you need to command the day

● “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place? —Job 38:12

● Luke 21:38 KJV And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

3. To cry to God to help you face the challenges of the day

● Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly ( Ps 5:3 )

● I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words ( Ps 119:147 )

4. To confront Pharaoh and decree the deliverance of the captives, to execute judgment and stop evil plots of the agents of darkness

● Pharaoh used to rise up early the morning and go to the river Nile to make incantations to his gods. 

● God gave Moses instruction,

● Exodus 7:15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water. Stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent.

● Exodus 8:20  The LORD said to Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; see, he comes forth to the water; and say to him, ... Let my people go,... 

● Exodus 9:13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me.

5. It's part of the habits of giants. It is part of offering to God the firstfruit, meaning what is precious to you

● All the giants of faith were early risers. That is why Mary Magdalene I believe was the first one Jesus appeared to.

● David;  - 2 Samuel 24:24.  But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price.  I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.”

● John 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

Join them. Commit to be in command of the day by talking to God early the morning.

● It cost to wake up early in the morning.  If really you are delivered,  it will show by how ready you are to wake up early in the morning to pray, fo meditate on the Word of God, to commune with God. Receive that grace in the name of Jesus Christ. 

FACT 3 | THE POWER OF BEING UNDER AUTHORITY

QUESTION : How do you respond to your authorities?

IT’S OKAY TO RUN TO THOSE WHO HAVE MORE LIGHT THAN YOU TO GET MORE LIGHT. THAT IS THE SECOND REASON WHY JESUS APPEARED FIRST TO MARY MAGDALENE : SHE WAS UNDER AUTHORITY

● John 20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

● Mary was submitted to Peter. She run to Peter. 

● The Bible says submit yourselves unto the Lord, resist the devil and he will flee. 

● Some demons will never flee until you are submitted to an authority. Submission to an authority is for your own good. 

1. Things will be well with you.

● “Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee” ( Ephesians 6:2–3 ).

2. You will have a long life.

● “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother . . . that . . . thou mayest live long on the earth” ( Ephesians 6:1–3 ).

3. You will bring delight to the Lord.

● “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord” ( Colossians 3:20 ).

4. You will avoid fear of condemnation.

● “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same, for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” ( Romans 13:3–4 ).

5. You will maintain a good conscience.

● “Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake” ( Romans 13:5 ).

6. You will bring joy to your authorities.

● “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” ( Hebrews 13:17 ).

7. You will receive God’s reward.

● “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” ( Colossians 3:18–24 ).

8. You will avoid blaspheming God and His Word through rebellion.

● “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed” ( I Timothy 6:1 ).

9. You will be given clear direction.

● “My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee” ( Proverbs 6:20–22 ).

10. You will be protected from evil people.

● “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: to keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman” ( Proverbs 6:23–24 ).

11. You will gain discernment.

● “A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent” ( Proverbs 15:5 ).

12. You will receive praise from your authorities.

● “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well” ( I Peter 2:13–14 ).

13. You will honor those whom God has placed in authority over you.

● “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves” ( I Thessalonians 5:12–13 ).

14. You will escape the destruction of pride.

● “And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise . . . he is proud, knowing nothing” ( I Timothy 6:2–4 ).

15. You will receive the grace God gives to the humble.

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” ( I Peter 5:5–7 ).

● QUESTION : Are you delivered? Really delivered?

● If you are really delivered from demons you will know it by how you relate to the authorities.

● If you are always offended when you are rebuked, it shoes there is a demon of pride in you.

● If you are still struggling to submit to the authorities, you are in bondage. You are yet to be delivered.

FACT 4 | THE POWER OF YOUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

● Mary Magdalene had a personal relationship with the Lord. ( John 20:3-11 )

● John 20:10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

● John 20:11 BUT MARY STOOD without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

● You will know you are delivered if you can stand when everybody goes.There are people who are still bound to other people.

● You will know you are delivered if Peter and John go, you will stand your ground. If you have that personal relationship with God.

● Mary could see Jesus because she was a lover of God. She had a personal relationship with God. 

● If you still struggle to love God, you are yet to be delivered. There are people who love money more than they love God. They love their problems more than they love God. They come to Church because they need some connections. 

● I pray the Word of Life Church will be filled with women like Mary Magdalene. She was a lover of God,  she could stand alone even when everybody has gone. 

● Lord Almighty, raise in the church such people like Mary Magdalene.

THE BLESSINGS OF LOVING GOD

1-God has prepared “uncommon things” for those who love him.

● 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NKJV 

“But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ (10) But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”

- When you love God, you will experience uncommon things. 

2-God will keep the covenant toward him for 1000 generations

● Deuteronomy 7:9 He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. 

3-God will love him and will manifest himself to him

● John 14:21 KJV

He that hath My commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him.”

● QUESTION : Do you love the Lord?

- If you love the Lord, you will have time for God.

- Despite you being busy, there are things you still do.

- When you don't fo what you are supposed to do in Church it's not because you are busy, its because you don't have the heart for God.

● Jesus says, "...where your heart is, your treasure is."

● You find time for your business, the things that bring you money but you don't find time for the things of God, don't lie to yourself, you don't love God, you love yourself. You love your business more than you love God. 

● I pray you receive the grace to stand even when Peter and John goes.

● Pray | Lord I receive the grace to stand where everybody denies the Lord. Even at work,  where others are stealing,  I receive the grace to stand.

● Pray | Lord I receive the grace to have a personal relationship with God.

In my own personal life, there people who led me to Christ.  But they left the Lord. Just because they left doesn't mean I should also leave. My relationship is very personal with the Lord. 

FACT 5 | THE POWER OF WITNESSING

● You will know you are delivered by witnessing.

● John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. 

(ASV)  Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, I have seen the Lord; and that he had said these things unto her.

● You will know you are delivered if you witness to the Lord. 

● There are many people who come to Church but they are not yet delivered. You can't tell others where you are going to Church,  you can't tell others Jesus loves you, you can't tell others what is benefitting your life, you can't share with others the message and ministration you are getting from the Lord ... you are yet to be delivered.  

CONCLUSION

- Where others saw the linen and the napkin, God rewarded Mary's perseverance to see angels first and then Jesus at the same place.

- By your perseverance, because of your love for God, these 40 days, as you build your personal relationship with Jesus, you will see Jesus, not angels, but Jesus !!!

- You are receiving the agressivity after the order of Jacob who said, "I will not let you go until you have blessed me" in the Name Of Jesus Christ !

- The demons who left your life will never return again in the Name Of Jesus Christ !

PRAISE SESSION

● Pray | Lord deliver me, deliver my tongue, deliver my Facebook page, deliver my WhatsApp account because I need to witness about Jesus.

● Pray |  Lord, I pray this time round my eyes will see the Lord, you revealed yourself to Mary, reveal yourself to me. 

● Pray |  Lord , I will be the next one who will witness that I have seen the Lord. 

● Pray | Help me oh, Lord to minister to you with my substance. 

● Pray | Lord, I want to see you like Mary Magdalene.

● I pray that somebody,  this time around you will see the Lord. 

● In those 40 days Post-Resurrection, the Lord will appear to you and you will testify that you have seen the Lord.

● You will see and you will testify I'm Jesus Name. 

Amen.

✍🏽Pastor TD Kasuku